Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Our Rural Future commits to developing an effective rural proofing model to ensure that significant new proposals fully consider the perspective of rural communities.

To advance this measure, my officials commissioned a research report on rural proofing which was published in January 2023. It outlines options that could be applied in the Irish context and assesses the merits and potential barriers to their implementation.

Supported by international evidence, the report confirms that no ‘one size fits all’ approach can be quickly and successfully implemented. Informed by these conclusions, my Department is developing a nationally applicable approach by first applying rural proofing concepts to a number of pilot test initiatives.

This includes rural proofing the first review of the National Planning Framework which is now underway and which is being led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. My officials are also working with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in relation to rural proofing and the development of the new Sustainable Tourism Policy. Similarly, within my own Department, work is also progressing on the development of the new National Hubs Strategy and a new Social Enterprise Policy, and the incorporation of rural proofing forms part of this work.

The evidence drawn from this approach will serve to identify the best way forward to support Government Department's in incorporating a full consideration of the rural perspective into their policy making processes. This will help to ensure that policy formulation more effectively considers both the challenges that exist in rural areas and, just as importantly, the opportunities that exist in rural areas. By ensuring that these perspective are central to policy making processes, we can ensure the delivery of better and more impactful policy.

I expect the work on the pilot initiatives to be concluded in early 2024, at which point we will have a firmer foundation of evidence on which to build an effective rural proofing model.